Teen Drinking Arrests Increased 30% Last Year Briefly

The number of minors arrested for violations of state liquor laws increased 30 percent last year, according to statistics released recently by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

Daniel Pennick, LCB chairman, said the state figures reflect findings of a recent Gallup Poll that teen-age drinking in increasing nationwide.

Pennick said the problem will be an enforcement priority this year and that the PLCB will "deal more severely with those licensees who knowingly trade off underage drinkers."

Agents conducted 1,152 checks for minors at licensed establishments and arrested 1,091 underage drinkers during those checks. A total of 1,223 minors were arrested by the LCB, and 905 by local and state police. In addition, agents charged 171 persons with sales to minors. They issued 884 citations for sales to minors and 363 citations for permitting minors in places where liquor is sold.

More than 23,000 investigations by PLCB officers last year resulted in 4,211 recommended citations. The highest number of violations was 1,339 for gambling.